France v Wales: Six Nations preview
Saturday 28 February 2015 16:48, UK
Wales winger George North makes a return to the team for his side's Six Nations clash with France in one of four changes to Warren Gatland’s side.
North suffered a concussion in the Millennium Stadium clash with England, and as a result was rested for the Scotland showdown in Edinburgh in the last round.
In his absence Liam Williams was brought into the team, but good form from Williams has seen Alex Cuthbert dropped out of the 23 while North slots into his place on the right wing.
Samson Lee, rested as a precautionary measure against the Scots, comes back into the starting team for Wales at the expense of Aaron Jarvis who drops to the bench.
Scott Baldwin and lock Luke Charteris join the team, with Charteris starting alongside stalwart Alun Wyn Jones.
Meanwhile Mathieu Bastareaud has been relegated to the bench for the Paris clash.
Bastareaud is one of five changes to the team that lost to Ireland at the Stade de France in the second round of competition in this year's Six Nations.
Pascal Pape, currenty serving a ban for kneeing Jamie Heaslip in the back, is the only change in the forwards as Romaine Taofifenua comes into the second row to replace him.
Remi Lamerat, who has been in superb form this season for Castres, comes in for Bastareaud to partner Wesley Fofana in the midfield, and his battle with Jonathan Davies will play a big part in the outcome of the game.
There are recalls for scrum-half Morgan Parra and full-back Brice Dulin, neither of whom have featured for France since the tour to Austalia in June last year.
In the final change to the team and Sofiane Guitoune comes in for the injured wing Teddy Thomas.
France have not beaten Wales since Philippe Saint-Andre took over as coach in 2012.
France: 15 Brice Dulin, 14 Yoann Huget, 13 Remi Lamerat, 12 Wesley Fofana, 11 Sofiane Guitoune, 10 Camille Lopez, 9 Morgan Parra; 1 Eddy Ben Arous, 2 Guilhem Guidado, 3 Rabah Slimani, 4 Romain Taofifenua, 5 Yoann Maestri, 6 Thierry Dusautoir (c), 7 Bernard Le Roux, 8 Damien Chouly.
Replacements: 16 Benjamin Kayser, 17 Vincent Debaty, 18 Uini Atonio, 19 Jocelino Suta, 20 Loann Goujon, 21 Sebastian Tillous-Borde, 22 Remi Tales, 23 Mathieu Bastareaud.
Wales: 15 Leigh Halfpenny, 14 George North, 13 Jonathan Davies, 12 Jamie Roberts, 11 Liam Williams, 10 Dan Biggar, 9 Rhys Webb; 1 Gethin Jenkins, 2 Scott Baldwin, 3 Samson Lee, 4 Luke Charteris, 5 Alun Wyn Jones, 6 Dan Lydiate, 7 Sam Warburton (c), 8 Taulupe Faletau.
Replacements: 16 Richard Hibbard, 17 Paul James, 18 Aaron Jarvis, 19 Bradley Davies, 20 Justin Tipuric, 21 Mike Phillips, 22 Rhys Priestland, 23 Scott Williams.
